Thief returns bike with an apology note

New York: In a bizarre incident in the US, a man's bicycle was stolen only to be returned back by a guilt-ridden thief with an apology note and 10 dollars to buy a new lock.

When Paul Gilmour got out of class at Portland Community College and found his bicycle stolen, the last thing he could have predicted would be the quick return of his bicycle, let alone an apology note from the thief.

The thief not just returned the stolen bike hours after taking it, but left behind a note of apology and 10 dollars for the owner to buy a new lock, the New York Daily News reported.

In the letter, the thief admitted to being out of work and struggling with addiction.

The whole experience was a "roller coaster ride of emotion," KPTV quoted Gilmour as saying.

"I had an amazing roller coaster ride of emotion, going from freaking out to wondering what happened to my bicycle that I don't have the means to replace, being a student, to grateful and just in shock that I actually got my stolen bicycle back," Gilmour said.

Using the money he got with the letter, he went out and bought a U-lock for his bike.